Help from people with experience on 497/210/sr60
Jan 4, 2003 at 10:19 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 25
ramiman

ramiman

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Hey everyone. Yeah, this is the same type of question they all ask, but you can't buy without listening, you know? Well, here goes: The Sennheiser HD-212 Pros and HD-497s cost the same on newegg.com. Quite simply, which to get? Headphone.com rates the 497 better, but i want to be absolutely sure of my purchase. And for $20 more, are the Grado SR60s worth it? My understanding is that between these three phones, you cant get any better for under 70 for use with a portable. I listen to a wide variety of music, from Beatles to classical guitar to techno to hip-hop, with an emphasis on the latter. All your help is massively appreciated.
 
Jan 5, 2003 at 1:27 AM Post #3 of 25
I cannot comment on the other cans, but I do know that the SR60s sound super even with a portable cd player.
 
Jan 5, 2003 at 1:53 AM Post #4 of 25
Quote:

Originally posted by ramiman
Also, what about the px1 and 200s.. do those rival or surpass the abovementioned hd497 or 212?


The PX200s wouldn't, sounding too bass heavy, with a rich midrange, and a treble that is seriously lacking...

The 100s though, are supposed to be airier... can't say that i've seen many (if any) reviews of the PX100s... so, I guess time will tell on those
smily_headphones1.gif
 
Jan 5, 2003 at 2:24 AM Post #5 of 25
From my use of the Sennheiser HD212s and my understanding of the PX200s from reviews, the PX200s would be a much more balanced headphone compared to the HD212s. The HD212s tend to limit themselves at being good for just hip hop and harder rock (chevelle, earlier incubus, nirvana) and maybe some techno while the PX200s would be much better for overall music. However, out of all the choices, the best might be the SR-60s or the HD497s from what I've heard about them, though if truly being used for a portable phone, the SR60 is too open (no sound blocking whatsoever, so it's hard to enjoy your music) and the HD497 and HD212 (same size) are too big and bulky.
Just for clarification, my experience is soley with the HD212 and I will soon have impressions on the PX100 for you, which might suit you best if they sound good since they are already small.
 
Jan 5, 2003 at 2:43 AM Post #6 of 25
Well bulkiness isn't really an issue with me, looking stupid is second to sound(I've been using a pair of Koss phones, and I'm someone who looks stupid in headphones anyway) so based on what everyone is telling me the 497's look like the best bet. On headphone.com they come very highly recommended and on amazon.com the lowest user rating, of which there were perhaps 5(out of 22) was 4 stars! Straight 5s other than that! At 49.99 it sounds like the best deal. Any objections before I place my order?
smily_headphones1.gif
 
Jan 5, 2003 at 4:57 AM Post #7 of 25
I've just ordered a demo 497 from Fullcompass for $33. The sales person checked them out for me before shipping and he said as far as he could tell everything looked brand new and unused. Hope he's right. Also, ordered a demo 580 for $157. If I like the sound I'll give them to the wife and order the 600s for myself. She's not as discriminating and actually doesn't care about "miniscule" differences in sound quality.
 
Jan 5, 2003 at 6:29 AM Post #8 of 25
heh sometimes I wonder about the sensitivity of my own ears. I've listened to 600s and 580s and MDR-V600s at Good Guys before, and to be sure, 600 is at the top of the bunch.. but my ear is not discerning enough to make criticisms like "tinny treble" or "muddled mids" etc etc... in fact when I plugged in my KOSS KTX-Pros and listened to the same tracks side by side with the Senn600s, I was hard pressed to find a difference, at least in a bass-heavy Coolio song. In classical and other music, the difference is there.. but it didn't seem like a $500 one. Maybe that was just a fluke.
smily_headphones1.gif
I hope so anyway.

Let me know about those 497s btw.
 
Jan 5, 2003 at 9:03 AM Post #9 of 25
Quote:

Originally posted by ramiman
heh sometimes I wonder about the sensitivity of my own ears. I've listened to 600s and 580s and MDR-V600s at Good Guys before, and to be sure, 600 is at the top of the bunch.. but my ear is not discerning enough to make criticisms like "tinny treble" or "muddled mids" etc etc... in fact when I plugged in my KOSS KTX-Pros and listened to the same tracks side by side with the Senn600s, I was hard pressed to find a difference, at least in a bass-heavy Coolio song. In classical and other music, the difference is there.. but it didn't seem like a $500 one. Maybe that was just a fluke.
smily_headphones1.gif
I hope so anyway.

Let me know about those 497s btw.



U cant go wrong with the 497s at the price, its definitely a good buy. The only flaw being the lack of comfort. I sold mine away coz my ears couldnt take the pain.
Prefer my v6s
 
Jan 5, 2003 at 4:53 PM Post #11 of 25
If you get the 497s and find them uncomfortable, try extending the earcups out all the way, placing them on your head, and then tightening the fit just until they stay in place. Worked for me.
 
Jan 5, 2003 at 5:17 PM Post #12 of 25
In terms of comfort, I've heard a lot of things in user reviews of the 497s. Some say they are light and airy, others that they constrict upon their heads.. My head is more long than most, ess wide, and according to Davie, I should be able to make then suit my needs. My hope is that aurally I will be making a substantial upgrade from my KTX-Pro's, into perhaps another level of listening, so that I can really enjoy my music again. Granted, I'm no audiophile, so even if its not top of the line, I can settle for that (for the time being.) My new senn's are on the way! These are my first non-cheapo headphones (i.e. over 20 bucks and respectable in the audio community). Thanks to all who have lent their sage advice on the matter, I'll let you know how the phones pan out.
 
Jan 5, 2003 at 6:11 PM Post #13 of 25
I find the HD 497s to have a first-class and unique sound. The sound is great and the sound signature won't be replicated by any other pair of headphones you buy in the future. The bass is strong and the treble extension is excellent. The sound is quite clear.

As far as comfort, I found that to be a big problem. By now I have STRETCHED them to the point where they are comfortable. This required keeping them on a basketball for days on end and manually flexing them past 180 degrees over and over and over -- it's a long-term process but it can be done. The headband doesn't break or snap even with enormous bending, well past 180 degrees (that is, you can bend them backwards without breaking or snapping them).

Some fortunate souls find them comfortable right out of the box.
 
Jan 5, 2003 at 6:17 PM Post #14 of 25
If you had a speaker or a wide PC tower, that should stretch the 497's to a more comfortable shape. I used that method back in my HD497 days.
wink.gif
 
Jan 5, 2003 at 7:26 PM Post #15 of 25
The only phone on your list that I've tried is the SR-60. At first, I couldn't stop smilling and I thought I was going to be a real Grado guy, but after a short while the harshness and lack of body, as well as their lack of real comfort, started taking their toll, while the 580/600s continued to grow on me. I'd be interested to hear the 497 some time. I've ordred the 590s, which I've only tried once at tweeter, but I don't have them yet.
 
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